Petunia plant named ‘DOPETSWEEBAPI98’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsweebapi98’, characterized by its semi-upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large purplish pink-colored flowers with white-colored centers; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETSWEEBAPI98’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dopetsweebapi98’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact, freely branching andearly-flowering Petunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2020 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selectionof Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT19-K0815, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia Xhybrida identified as code number TT20-K0851, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inRheinberg, Germany in May, 2022.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2022 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetsweebapi98’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dopetsweebapi98’ as a newand distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large purplish pink-colored flowers with white-colored        centers.    -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are more rounded than        flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the male parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida‘Sunrovein’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,468. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunrovein’ differ primarilyin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more upright than and not as        trailing as plants of ‘Sunrovein’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have longer leaves than plants of        ‘Sunrovein’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Sunrovein’.    -   4. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Sunrovein’.    -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are more rounded than        flowers of plants of ‘Sunrovein’.    -   6. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are darker in color than        flowers of plants of ‘Sunrovein’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Dopetsweebapi98’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and undercultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18C andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when thephotograph was taken and 25 weeks old when the description was taken. Inthe following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘Dopetsweebapi98’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT19-K0815, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT20-K0851, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 155B in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Semi-upright and uniformly mounding            plant habit; freely branching habit with about three to five            primary lateral branches each with about ten to twelve            secondary branches developing after pinching; vigorous            growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 22.5            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 73 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 31 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.4 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 143A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 144A; at the internodes, close to            144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 5.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Spatulate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            leathery; semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147C; venation, close to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.1 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong; firm. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 408 flowers and flower buds developing per plant            during the flowering season; flowers face mostly upright to            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,            plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 144B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.8 cm by 6.4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 5.8 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 5 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from            throat): About 2.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.9 cm. Petal            shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat            texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy. Tube texture and            luster: Rippled; semi-glossy. Color: Petal lobe, when            opening, upper surface: Close to 75A. Petal lobe, when            opening, lower surface: Close to 75B. Petal lobe, fully            opened, upper surface: Close to N74C; towards the center,            close to NN155D; venation, close to N144A; color does not            change with subsequent development. Petal lobe, fully            opened, lower surface: Close to N74B; venation, close to            N144B; color does not change with subsequent development.            Flower throat: Close to 151A; venation, close to 152A.            Flower tube: Close to 144C; venation, close to 144B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a            tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter:            About 2.1 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Decurrent.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 147A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 147B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to N137D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 2.1 cm. Filament color: Close to            145C. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther            color: Close to 8D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:            Close to 10A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 2.2 cm. Style length: About 1.9 cm. Style            color: Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 145C. Ovary color:            Close to 145A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 76            during the flowering season. Length: About 9 mm. Diameter:            About 5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 161C.            Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 269. Length: About 0.4 mm.            Diameter: About 0.4 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 200A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain, temperatures    ranging from about 5 C to about 40 C and to be suitable for USDA    Hardiness Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Petunia plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named‘Dopetsweebapi98’ as illustrated and described.